Forced onto a prepay energy meter? You may be due money back as 10,000s to be compensated

MSE_Emily

If you had an energy prepayment meter forcibly installed or your smart meter was remotely switched to prepay mode without your permission, you could be entitled to compensation of up to £1,000 and may even be eligible to have your energy debts written off...

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Forced onto a prepay energy meter? You may be due money back as 10,000s to be compensated

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0161a

I was forced onto a prepayment meter many years ago by Scottish Power.
They came while I was at work, and my so,n who was 17/18, was here. The repayments were horrendous, yes, I was vulnerable. I had many problems over the years, and long story short- I now have a CCJ. 
Would I be eligible for the compensation? Or is it only for people who have been moved to prepayment meters in recent years? It was approximately 2012 when it happened to me

WiserMiser

0161a said:

Would I be eligible for the compensation? Or is it only for people who have been moved to prepayment meters in recent years? It was approximately 2012 when it happened to me

Unfortunately you won't qualify because the relevant period is 1 January 2022 to 31 January 2023.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/compensation-installing-prepayment-meters-without-permission

0161a

I've done some googling and some results say that it may be possible to claim for meter installations before 2022-but these results are AI-generated so may be inaccurate. The debt has been passed ontp Moriaty Law and they are threatening doorstep visits. I'm deperately trying to sort it out

first_faithuk

I contacted EDF to ask them to review if I was due any compensation. I was switched remotely to a prepayment meter in Oct 2022 after I was struggling to pay off debt.

initially their response was that they wouldn’t have switched me to a prepayment meter unless they had a court order. I told them that I did not believe they did and could they check their records to confirm (they’ve moved systems so I no longer have access to letters older than 2 years).

The response is now this (no mr ton as to whether they did indeed have a warrant or not):

’ I have spoken with the relevant team and they have advised your account is not showing to be eligible. They have advised the compensation to due if we installed a prepayment meter over your current at that time. With yours, as you had a smart meter already, we only changed the mode of payment. If you can click the link below you can see their article in full.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/compensation-installing-prepayment-meters-without-permission’

What do I do? Are they right?

MWT

first_faithuk said:

’ I have spoken with the relevant team and they have advised your account is not showing to be eligible. They have advised the compensation to due if we installed a prepayment meter over your current at that time. With yours, as you had a smart meter already, we only changed the mode of payment. If you can click the link below you can see their article in full.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/compensation-installing-prepayment-meters-without-permission’

What do I do? Are they right?

No they are not right, point them to this statement from Ofgem:

"

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/news/compensation-involuntary-installation-prepayment-meters-1-january-2022-31-january-2023

... and note that in the original link earlier in this thread they refer to 'move you on to or install' it is not just intended to cover newly installed meters.

first_faithuk

I’m not getting anywhere with EDF, they are not providing the information that I have requested from them (even though they initially told me they would), give me conflicting information and then just fob me off with the excuse that if I was entitled to compensation I would have already been contacted.
 I want to pursue it with the energy ombudsman but it says I have to give EDF 8 weeks to resolve it (it’s only been 5 weeks),

MattMattMattUK

first_faithuk said:

I’m not getting anywhere with EDF, they are not providing the information that I have requested from them (even though they initially told me they would), give me conflicting information and then just fob me off with the excuse that if I was entitled to compensation I would have already been contacted.

They are almost certainly correct as all forced switches were reviewed by the regulator any compensation paid.

first_faithuk said:

 I want to pursue it with the energy ombudsman but it says I have to give EDF 8 weeks to resolve it (it’s only been 5 weeks),

Then ask them for a final response which means you can take it to the ombudsman or wait three weeks. Be aware that you might be waiting 6-12 months for the ombudsman's decision so it will  not be quick regardless. 

first_faithuk

MattMattMattUK said:

first_faithuk said:

I’m not getting anywhere with EDF, they are not providing the information that I have requested from them (even though they initially told me they would), give me conflicting information and then just fob me off with the excuse that if I was entitled to compensation I would have already been contacted.

They are almost certainly correct as all forced switches were reviewed by the regulator any compensation paid

Ofgem told energy suppliers to self review so that means cases can be missed, especially those who were switched remotely like me.

Ofgem’s public statement says:

 “Even if you weren’t contacted by your supplier, you may still be entitled to redress if your switch was carried out incorrectly.”

In my situation, I made a payment before the switch date, received no further contact, and was told I wasn’t assessed for vulnerability. EDF has also given me conflicting information and haven’t fully answered my questions.

I have emailed them to ask if it is their final decision to send me a deadlock letter so I can proceed with the ombudsman